On the 20th of this month I watched, part of the Citizen 10pm TV news and two items really caught my attention …

The first was on the hunger strikers outside the US bomb site at the Haile Selassie/Moi Avenue Roundabout, the other on three disabled brothers who lost their parents/relatives in the tribal violence/balkanization that took place during the dark days of KANU rule.

We are now well past our 40th year of Independence and we still have a Government that not only does not have any form of social net but will build a ‘magnificent’ Presidential House or buy luxury limousines to ferry them to work and pleasure.

Is there something wrong with me or do we need a REAL revolution to build a caring compassionate society?

wa Mathira

We need a REAL revolution to build a caring MORE compassinate society

And the irony is that a disgraced minister will pay over 7 million shillings just to have his visa to a foreign country restored. Unfortunately, triblism as a hegemonic doscourse has been so perfected by our leaders that some poor Kieni residents think their MP is being persecuted.

Yes I agree that a revolution is needed, but not the street demos or some forms of mass action. It is a revolution targeting people's psyche. A revolution that will help our people demand that their taxes be spent in order of priorities.

And that revolution cannot be led by any of these guys who are shouting their voices hoarse on the campaign trail when a ministry budget that involve more that a third of the country's income is being debated by a mere 20 legislators from a total of 228.

Kariuki,

I hear you on that. That story about the 3 physically challenged brothers particularly touched my heart. The most unfortunate thing is the fact that their predicament was a result of senseless violence where a man turns against his neighbour who they have lived with for eons. These ethnic clashes are to say the least very barbaric and whoever instigates them must be condemned with the strongest words possible. I honestly don't believe how one day my neighbor turns on me and we have lived with him for decades.

Unfortunately our leadership also has gone to the dogs. The leaders we are looking upto for guidance are doomed. We need a radical change and that change can only start with kicking the so called leaders out. Change is long overdue.

wananchi,
I have actually come to the conclution that we need to change as a people first before anything else can change. Look at the history of our country with British colonialism. It was only after our people decided that they had had enough that the dynamics of that relationship changed. Why are we expecting the leadership to change from within. If we did not seat around and wait for the British to change, then we should not seat around and wait for the leadership to change. We should learn the lessons of history a little bit more closely.

I believe that the so called Kenyan leaders are a perfect creation of Kenyan people. I actually don't think we have anything more authentically Kenyan than our leader. The bunch of idiots actually found people who were ****** enough to take a few shillings for their vote. That is the worst corruption and our people are implicated in this scandal. Why are they turning around to saying that their partners in crime are not working for them. That was never the agreement and we should stop dreaming. Those who did not take any bride are not any less guilty. I have not heard of any case of a person injured in an effort to stop another kenyan from bribing this leaches. The one who takes the bribe from this wicked wise should be as much of a victim of the people's wrath as those who parpetrate this corruption. Untill then, I will not expect the so called elected leaders to do anything substancial for our country. Waiting for that to happen is a waste of my time and anyone else under that illusion.

Evolution is what is needed from our people not revolution. We seem to have had two liberations and it is hard to tell just what was revolutionalized in any of them.

Peace.

revolutions are not started by the masses, nor are the won by speaking about revolution. Revolution NEEDS to begin with an individual, a family, a community and so on. IF we want a better Kenya, we have to demand better Kenyans.

When people choose to fight against the British they made the mistake of accepting someone who looks like us to rule us. what happened was that the oppressors left (physically) but left us their laws, their way of thinking in fact everything about them. WE have adopted their ways. WE stopped fighting thinking that WE won. We did not win and MUST continue fighting for our liberation.

Jambo All,

I believe that wa Wanjiru has hit the nail in the ‘center of the head’ We allowed ourselves to be meekly led down the creek and we now realize that we need a paddle to get back what we lost.

This argument holds true especially if you are interested in ‘alternative medicine’ and are astonished at just how many ‘new’ uses and discoveries are being found for plants that we have had in this region for millennia.

It holds true that with our moral values being replaced by alien values. We are seeing really depraved crimes being committed in the country. Some of them are being explained away as drug induced but they seem to go further than that it really seems that we are lost between two worlds.

wa Mathira

The trouble with Kenyan politics is that we keep voting back the same old dogs to parliament.Blame it on the Citizens.These good for nothing politicians can not vote themselves back in.We have a right to vote them out.

So why dont we start using our rights and vote them out?

Kenya is gone to the dogs already,we had a good country 20 years ago not now and that will never change because for one we will have to wipe out the old school leaders weve got in kenya,put a mentality of creating a good well for all{which starts with an individual}but with these days of everyone for him self and God for us all.Its a shame we have leaders who care all about themselves while our brother and sisters are dying of hunger in a counry that had one of the best agriculture development on earth but them leaders stole proceeds and profits,instead of expanding until all collapsed it became big business for a few politicians who have to get products like coffe and tea exported back in form of nescafe and sold twice the amount.Instead of investing heavily in the titanium project put money in irrigation and plant food so when drought strikes our people dont die of hunger,the titanium will end up generating money that will go to peoples pockets,has anyone noticed we cant even manage our own railways now its gone to the south africans,garbage to the italians,soon what?Maybe a white company managing our parliament? Guess what, grade one coffe is cheaper here in singapore than in kenya!Huh thats from a counry with lots of coffe!We totally F*****! We need leaders who look after the interest of the kenyans but not their personal goals of stealing everything,ask me anytime,anywhere we have Kibaki but all he is,is the president but no change will pop up,we will have a bad economy,more poverty,more hunger and more,yes more corruption.Revolution or no revolution,will you remove those leaders overnight and change the mentality of kenyans overnight?People would do anything to get money for food and take care of their famillies even if that means getting money to vote a bad leader in.Anyone correct me if am wrong.

so then to overstand you,gachoka muthui, you are saying that because "people would do anything to get money for food" we should just do what?

Politics is a mind and money game,in kenya elections are not won on the character but the amount of money pumped into it.Vote buying is big business and the reason it is, its coz majority of kenyan voters are poor and provide money for the next meal BINGO! uve got their vote,thats what am saying,the few straight of us who wont sell represent a low percentage in the voting,aint saying you sell your votes but on our dream of having tranparent election to get good leders we must consider both sides.

gathoka muthui, I asked the question b/c it seems your solution to the problem is the leaders we elect, my solution is the people, NOT the "leaders"-to me they are more rulers or even better new age colonial administrators.

Like Kariuki wa Mathira said "It holds true that with our moral values being replaced by alien values. We are seeing really depraved crimes being committed in the country. Some of them are being explained away as drug induced but they seem to go further than that it really seems that we are lost between two worlds." Voting in so called leaders is the same thing, someone being able to give you money to buy sugar is not going to solve your problems (whether your problems be lack of proper health care, crime, income generation etc). SO saying that, what I was calling for is a revolution (that first must begin with individuals, families, communities and so on) WE need to re-examine our thinking, for instance what is freedom? What and who is a leader? What role do we play in holding ensuring our own livelyhood.

With all due respect ciku wa wanjiru,all uve got are theories,how many kenyans are ready to agree with you?Many including me.How many kenyans can put all said into practice or better yet who are ready to implement it?Your hope of a better Kenya is far and almost impossible.WHY?because this is mind perfection which cant be put into action,all we need is someone with a heart to our dying country to get it off its doom of corruption and have a vision of building it economically and eradication of poverty.People need to see progress but not tried to be programmed with codes of conduct.Am saying all this with acknowledgement of your points and total support of them but its progress needed at the end of the day.

gachoka muthui, what I said is not theory, it is a practice that begins with the individual and becomes a family, community and national movement. The discussion was and is about revolution, the revolution that I am calling for is one that begins with the self. I do believe that Kenyans will and do agree with me and are willing to take on the responsibility of changing and acting on that change.

WE don't need someone, read ONE person, dying for US. WE need to be willing to die for ourselves or live (as I am saying) for US. We have to stop waiting to be rescued by SOMEONE and rescue OURSELVES.

WE want to see process, then ask yourself what progress YOU have made, what can YOU add to the progress made by others.

I agree with you totally,but the target of your words are us who read this forum.Look at kenya and tell me who are ready to die for that dump?Most people would rather be out of there to pursue a better life,what about all those who cant access your ideas,how do the get the point? another question,with so many of us outside kenya are we,are you fighting for better Kenya from Washington?